Super Meat Boy 3D hides a lot of secrets, but Glitch Boy sits at the top of the pile. Unlike every other unlockable character in the game, he has nothing to do with Bandages, Dark Worlds, or secret levels. Instead, you need to track down five well-hidden glitches scattered across the game's five worlds, touch each one, and he's yours. The catch? These glitches are tucked into spots most players sprint right past.
You do not need to finish a level after touching a glitch. Simply make contact with it and exit the stage, and it counts toward your total.
What is Glitch Boy and is he worth unlocking?
Glitch Boy is the most secretive character in Super Meat Boy 3D. He plays with a unique visual glitching effect and is nearly invisible during gameplay, which makes him a novelty more than a power pick. His real value is the achievement tied to his unlock, making him a must-collect for completionists. If you're hunting 100%, you need him.
All glitch locations in Super Meat Boy 3D
Here's a full breakdown of every glitch location, organized by world.
World 1: Thorn Trial (Level 12)
Once you reach the open area where a tree falls across the forward path, resist the urge to keep moving ahead. Drop down into the small gap beneath that pathway instead. A glitch is hiding at the bottom, but watch out for the saws being launched in your direction. The timing is tight, but the gap is easy to spot once you know it exists.
Super Meat Boy 3D Guide: How to Unlock Glitch Boy
World 2: Trash Metal (Level 14)
This one is the sneakiest of the five. Right at the start of the level, launch yourself out into the distance toward a small cove that sits far off the obvious route. Use the first platform as a wall jump launch point to reach it. The distance makes it easy to dismiss as empty space, which is exactly why most players miss it entirely.
World 3: Questionable Working Conditions (Level 8)
Expect to spend the most time on this one. You need to reach near the end of the level before the glitch becomes accessible. At the final wall, instead of continuing forward, jump back off it and loop around to the platform behind you. A hidden alcove holds the glitch there. It requires precise wall jumping, but the path makes sense once you've seen it.
Super Meat Boy 3D Guide: How to Unlock Glitch Boy
World 4: Magma Wastes (Level 8)
Magma Wastes is already one of the more punishing levels in the game thanks to its lava-trail blocks, so finding the glitch here adds an extra layer of frustration. Play through the level normally until you reach the section with the breakable glass pane. Instead of smashing through it, jump up the wall above it. The glitch sits on a platform just above that spot.
If you're struggling with the lava blocks on the way there, Pumpkin Jack is worth using here. His double jump makes navigating the obstacles significantly more forgiving, according to the original source guide.
World 5: Crumbled Canyon (Level 4)
The final glitch is the most straightforward of the set. A large metal pipe sits on the left side of the level, reachable after your very first jump. Climb it by bouncing off its metal walls repeatedly, and you'll reach the top where the last glitch waits. Touch it, and if this is your fifth, Glitch Boy unlocks immediately.
Super Meat Boy 3D Guide: How to Unlock Glitch Boy
Does Glitch Boy have any gameplay advantages?
Honestly, not really. His near-invisibility is more of a visual quirk than a practical tool, and the glitching effect is purely cosmetic. The real payoff is the achievement that pops when you collect all five glitches, plus the satisfaction of finding secrets that the majority of players walk straight past.
For players going after every secret in the game, Glitch Boy is just one piece of the puzzle. You can browse more guides on GAMES.GG to cover the rest of your Super Meat Boy 3D completionist run, from Bandage locations to Dark World unlocks.